She wants to make 2019 the "Year of Vocational Education and Training". It is particularly important to Anja Karliczek is that skilled craft and university-based education and training are valued as equivalents.
She expresses it in clear terms: "both are needed otherwise it doesn't work". She adds that there must be reliable pathways and standards to facilitate education and training for persons with a disability. The federal minister for education has now visited the Centre for Skills, Training and Service (QuBuS) at the Ledder Workshops (LeWe) to see for herself what the social welfare organisation supported by the Protestant church provides.
Around 50, predominantly young, people - so-called "activity participants" from the Employment Agency providing the financing and from the German statutory pension insurance scheme - complete the training in the vocational area at Ruthemeiers Esch. Over a total of 27 months they discover their own skills, develop these further in placements and, following this, move into an area of work of their choice. Anja Karliczek had this process, which is multifaceted and always individualized, clearly explained to her by Marianne Büscher (management), Andreas Laumann-Rojer (workshop management) and employees Melanie Niewand and Ann-Kathrin Fischer.
What brings the young people to the workshop? What practical elements are available here? Which training content extends beyond the work? How many people are able to work permanently outside of the organization? The 47-year-old minister asked specific questions and took the opportunity to speak directly to employees by simply sitting down with a cup of coffee between activity participants as they were working.
For example, Matthias Haverkamp explained to her how to use his counting tool, while Tatjana Klausmeier listed the benefits of the vocational education and training which were important to her - less stress, not working under pressure, learning things for use at home, good colleagues and great provision, such as the physiotherapy provided in the organisation.
The employees showed, for example, how the Lukeo fire lighter was produced and Marianne Büscher provided the theoretical background to this. "All the machines we work with here are for our people. Their purpose is not for automation. As far as possible, they are intended to enable all people to participate in the work process."
Laumann-Rojer explained that, so far, vocational education and training in workshops is not covered by the Vocational Training Act. He referred to new drafts of so-called training frameworks from the German Federal Association of Sheltered Workshops which are now finding their way into the political arena. He also pointed to a further pressing problem. He explained that young people who are educated inclusively but who are not yet of legal age have nothing to move onto following 10th grade, and this affects many in the region.
The minister listened and promised to call for the recognition of vocational education and training. She commented that, in the long run, it would also be important to legally enshrine partial qualifications and qualifications, in addition to the training.